Rebecca Gibb
Author
Agent
Assistant
Melissa Tombere
MTombere@UnitedAgents.co.ukBiography
Rebecca Gibb was born and raised in north-east England when the local steelworks and coal-mining industry was on its knees, so wine journalism seemed like a better way of earning a living.
A former winner of the UK’s Young Wine Writer of the Year and the Louis Roederer Emerging Writer of the Year, she contributes to many publications as well as being a critic, reviewing the wines of the Loire Valley and New Zealand for one of the world’s leading wine publications, Vinous.
Rebecca is also one of only 409 Masters of Wine in the world. Graduating top of the class in 2015, she was named the Bollinger Medal winner for outstanding tasting ability.
In July 2018, her first book, The Wines of New Zealand, was published by Oxford-based Infinite Ideas and was one of five books shortlisted for the Louis Roederer International Wine Book of the Year in 2019. In addition to her career as an award-winning wine writer, she appears on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch as one of its wine experts and has joined Dan Snow on History Hit as an expert on wine history. Her second book, VINTAGE CRIME, was published by University of California Press in October 2023.
Rebecca spends her spare time looking after her son and playing the cello. She once ran for Great Britain in the 100-metre hurdles and tries to maintain some sort of fitness by mountain biking and wild swimming.
Praise for VINTAGE CRIME:
‘The British master of wine Rebecca Gibb has great fun picking through the skulduggery in an entertaining read that romps around the vineyards of the world’ The Times (Best Food & Wine Writing of 2023)
‘This slim yet insightful and entertaining volume documents the many instances where wine drinkers did not get what they paid for’ NY Times (Best Wine Books of 2023)
A ‘seriously well-researched, disciplined history of wine fraud’ with a ‘lively, well-paced, humorous, deliciously gossipy, slyly acerbic narrative. . . Nothing glib about Gibb!’ jancisrobinson.com
‘This exceptionally well-researched and engaging exploration of wine fraud through the ages shook me to my core. . . Gibb is a Master of Wine and a good storyteller. . . as well as bringing history vividly to life’ Australian Financial Review
‘No wine lover should be without a copy of Vintage Crime, though in future it might make you sniff a little more suspiciously when handed a glass of fine wine. . .’ Club Oenologique
‘Takes the reader on a highly entertaining tour of wine fraud from ancient times up to the present day. . . . The book is full of brilliant details’ Spectator
‘[an] entertaining gallop through wine fraud down the ages’ Daily Mail
Publications
Non-Fiction
In The Wines of New Zealand Master of Wine Rebecca Gibb takes us on a vinous journey through Aotearoa (‘land of the long white cloud’) and opens our eyes to the huge variety of wines created throughout the two islands of one of the world’s most southerly wine-producing lands. She begins by covering the history of winemaking in New Zealand – the first grapes were planted 200 years ago, but it has only recently realized its potential. There is then an introduction to the New Zealand climate and the leading grapes – including 10 ‘must-try’ wines for each variety.
The major wine producing regions are detailed in turn, from Northland, the most northerly and warmest region, offering ripe Chardonnays and rich reds, to the cooler South Island, where bright whites and nuanced Pinot Noirs abound. Profiles, including recommended wines, are given for a selection of the country’s nearly 700 producers, providing an overview of the most exciting wineries and their differing approaches to viticulture and winemaking. For those readers seeking to complete their exploration of this breathtaking country in person, there is a useful chapter giving details on wine-related activities in New Zealand.
This expert and accessible guide to New Zealand wines is a refreshing addition to the library of any wine enthusiast.
How fakes, fraudsters, and grape crusaders have shaped the world of wine. This novel take on the history of wine reveals that, whether by adding toxic sweeteners or passing off counterfeit bottles, wine fraud is abundant—and as old as wine itself. Vintage Crime will intrigue even the most sated of wine drinkers with its juicy tales of deception, raising interesting questions along the way: what counts as wine, why do we drink it, and what makes a wine truly authentic?
The world of wine prides itself on its aura of respectability, but it has always had a murky side. Packed with engaging vignettes, Vintage Crime brings to life famous enthusiasts and crafty con artists from ancient Rome to modern-day California. It also introduces us to lesser-known industry figures: the scrupulous merchants, honest growers, and cutting-edge scientists who have led the fight against fraudsters. Author Rebecca Gibb holds the rare, sought-after distinction of Master of Wine, yet she writes in an engaging style that doesn’t require any prior wine knowledge, skillfully synthesizing popular wine histories for amateur sleuths and armchair sommeliers alike.
